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traa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Vomit
kaitlinnoodles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
kay_brot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
hngisreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction and Drug abuse
Minor: Child death, Miscarriage, and Abandonment
readerette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Classism
isleoflinds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Body horror, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Chronic illness and Classism
hngoodlett's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Vomit and War
meggs1005's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
massivepizzacrust's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
That's basically my whole thought but still, I think the premise, the setting, the relationships between the characters were great. The discussion of racism in this setting was really great, I especially liked the detail about Wileyites appropriating Ashtown fashion without understanding any of the meaning behind it as I don't see that mentioned as much in fantasy.
The plot was good but didn't really surprise me or pull me in and I found it a little hard to get through the writing at times, especially in the long section on a different world. I don't really know what I needed that this book didn't give me, but I just didn't fall in love with any part of it.
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Cultural appropriation, and Abandonment
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Gun violence and Death of parent
taliahsbookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The premise, the plot, the characters, all of it fits together in this super intricate way. It's easy to follow but it's not easy to anticipate what's coming next.
I can't pinpoint the exact moment when I was reading that I went "Oh, this is what good writing is," but I can tell you I knew it. The whole time, I was engaged with the plot, I was invested in the characters and their journey, and I was intrigued by all of the challenges. Every time I put it down to take a break or go for a walk or get a snack, I couldn't stop thinking about it. To me, that's a sign of good book. And this? This was definitely a good book.
Although there is some worldbuilding that I felt could have been expanded to make this a duology, Micaiah Johnson crafted a world that feels eerily realistic and having a simple standalone definitely worked out.
While this does contain a romance, it's not the main plot of the book, and only serves to further character development of everyone involved. That being said, though, I was invested in the romance and was rooting for it to work
I will let you know: This isn't a YA novel. Although it doesn't contain any graphic scenes, the messaging and the divide between good and evil are incredibly subtle, though very power. I think younger readers could pick this up and would absolutely enjoy it, but marketing it as anything other than an adult sci-fi would be disingenuous to Micaiah Johnson's writing.
Favorite quotes:
"Even worthless things can become valuable once they become rare."(5)
"Death can be senseless, but life never is."(191)
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child death, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Blood, and Abandonment